Addressing bullying can be a challenging task for both teachers and parents. However, by spotlighting and discussing the issue, there is a greater opportunity to thwart bullying behaviors and assist those affected by it. National Bullying Prevention Month in 2026 offers an excellent opportunity to engage in anti-bullying activities such as those suggested here.
Jump to:
What is Bullying Prevention Month?
Held annually in October, Bullying Prevention Month brings together various organizations to promote education and awareness about preventing bullying. Initiated in 2006 by PACERâs National Bullying Prevention Center, its aim was to challenge the notion that bullying is simply a rite of passage during childhood. The center highlights that bullying can lead to increased school absenteeism, reduced academic performance, and heightened physical and mental stress.
To gain more insights, we consulted Laura Oathout and Ashley Amely from Counselor Collab (@counselorcollab), experts in Kâ8 school counseling and social-emotional learning. Together, they have over 30 years of experience in school counseling, having worked in public schools and as curriculum developers.
What is bullying?
According to educators like Laura and Ashley, the phrase âHeâs/sheâs bullying me!â is heard frequentlyâoften multiple times a week. They also receive numerous communications from parents worried about bullying. The problem lies in the casual use of the term, leading to one-off unkind actions being misclassified as bullying.
Laura and Ashley caution that mislabeling minor incidents as bullying can cause real bullying to go unrecognized. They warn that focusing on small issues can overwhelm educators and parents, leading to severe, possibly life-threatening consequences for affected youth.
Stopbullying.gov defines bullying as âunwanted aggressive behavior, observed or perceived power imbalance, and repetition or high likelihood of repetition of bullying behaviors.â
Learn more: What Is Bullying? (And What It Isnât)
Bullying Prevention Facts
- Bullying is deliberate and persistent, relying on physical, social, or emotional power to harm others.
- It can occur both in person and online, the latter known as cyberbullying.
- One in five students report experiencing bullying behavior.
- Reasons for being bullied may include physical appearance, race, gender, disability, religion, or sexual orientation.
- Research suggests effective bullying prevention programs can reduce school bullying. These initiatives can help potential bullies identify and cease their behavior and provide victims with necessary support.
When is National Bullying Prevention Month 2026?
Each October, National Bullying Prevention Month raises global awareness about bullying. On Monday, October 5, 2026, the 20th annual World Day of Bullying Prevention will be observed. Organizations like Stomp Out Bullying host special events to promote awareness. Wednesday, October 21, 2026, marks Unity Day, dedicated to kindness, acceptance, and inclusion.
2026 Bullying Prevention Month Activities and Ideas
Laura and Ashley emphasize that while National Bullying Prevention Month is a valuable initiative, fostering an anti-bullying culture requires ongoing daily efforts. It should not be confined to a single week, month, or school assembly. Instead, it requires a collaborative effort involving teachers, students, and parents.
Here are some strategies schools can use to cultivate an inclusive and supportive environment.
Kick off a buddy or peer mentoring program
If your school lacks an anti-bullying program, October is the perfect time to start one. Laura and Ashley suggest pairing older and younger students for activities like mentoring, reading, or transition support, which can enhance connectedness and provide younger students with additional trusted peers.
Try it: How To Start a Bullying Prevention Program
Wear orange for Unity Day
Participate in the nationwide movement on October 22 to demonstrate that your school stands for acceptance, kindness, and inclusion. Encourage students to wear orange and distribute anti-bullying accessories to those who do.
Play Kindness Bingo
Distribute bingo cards featuring various acts of kindness at the start of the school week. Students aim to complete a line of five acts in any direction. To verify activities, have students describe them on the back and get initials from recipients or observers. Offer prizes to those with completed rows at weekâs end!
Start an anti-bullying book club
Select a new book each month to read together and discuss its themes. Older students can read chapter books independently, while anti-bullying picture books suit all ages. Read them together during meetings, pausing to discuss key messages. Here are some favorites from Laura and Ashley:
Share anti-bullying videos during morning meetings or announcements
Feature a new video each week or day, and encourage teachers to facilitate classroom discussions about the topics covered. A wide selection of videos is available for students from pre-K to high school.
Try it: Best Anti-Bullying Videos for Kids
Form a Student Upstanders Society
âUpstanders are courageous individuals who confront bullying,â explain Laura and Ashley. âRather than standing by, ignoring, or exacerbating the bullying, they take safe, positive action when they witness bullying, exclusion, or harmful behavior.
âThis doesnât entail putting themselves in danger,â they clarify. âIt involves telling the perpetrator to stop, inviting the victim to join them, seeking help from a trusted adult, reporting the incident, or checking in with the victim afterward.â
Teach students clearly what it means to be an upstander and how to act accordingly. Upstanding students can wear badges or bracelets indicating they are a safe haven from bullying.
Take an anti-bullying pledge
Encourage students to sign a declaration such as the Kids Against Bullying pledge. Make it meaningful by discussing the distinction between a bully and an upstander, and encourage students to embody their pledge daily.
Paper the halls with anti-bullying and kindness messages
âBullying often occurs in unsupervised or minimally supervised school areas,â Laura and Ashley caution. âEstablish and display behavior expectations throughout the school (classroom, bathroom, hallway, bus, cafeteria, gym, etc.). Teach consistent behaviors like âBe safe, be respectful, be inclusive,â and demonstrate these behaviors in each location. Ensure staff consistently enforce and expect these rules from studentsâwithout exception.â
Hold a Bullying Prevention Month poster contest
Invite students to create anti-bullying posters for display in their classrooms. Select a winner from each grade or class, enlarge those posters, and exhibit them in your schoolâs entrance hall, cafeteria, or other communal spaces.
Build a kindness chain
Provide each student with a strip of colorful paper to write a message of encouragement or kindness. Connect all strips to create a giant paper chain and hang it in the cafeteria or hallways as a symbol of unity.
Pass out paper hearts
This classic anti-bullying activity is a favorite of Laura and Ashley. Hereâs how it works:
- Provide each student with a paper heart. Read aloud examples of unkind words, teasing, exclusion, or bullying. After each example, students crumple, fold, or slightly tear the heart to represent the hurt caused.
- Read examples of apologies, compliments, kindness, and supportive actions. As you read each one, ask students to try to smooth a part of the heart back out. Students will see that while the heart looks better, the wrinkles and marks remain.
- Discuss this symbolism with students. Apologies and kindness are important, but hurtful words and actions can leave lasting marks. People and relationships can heal, but we must consider the impact of our words and actions before speaking and acting.
Try a âRandom Acts of Kindnessâ challenge
Begin by brainstorming with students an extensive list of ways they can show kindness to others, both in and out of school. Then, challenge them to accomplish as many acts of kindness as possible over a week. Have each student document their acts and keep a record of the total. Celebrate the final tally with an assembly at the end of the week!
Try it: Meaningful Random Acts of Kindness for Kids
Watch beloved Bluey episodes
Bluey, an Australian show, is renowned for its engaging delivery of social-emotional learning messages. Episodes like âSeesawâ or âAsparagusâ effectively teach kindness and teamwork. Use free BBC worksheets and activities to emphasize these messages. (Secondary students will enjoy this as much as elementary students!)
Bluey Kindness and Friendship Activities
Explore our five favorite episodes of Bluey for teaching kids to be kind and work together, along with free printable activities for each.
Create an anti-bullying mural
Select a meaningful quote or message to paint on a school wall. Involve every student, whether in design submissions, space preparation, painting, or cleaning. Celebrate with an unveiling event upon completion!
Paper the halls with kindness and anti-bullying quotes
Gather quotes about kindness, post them on sticky notes around the school, and encourage students to share their favorite quotes or sayings on the topic.
Try it: 100 Kindness Quotes for Kids and 75 Anti-Bullying Quotes To Promote Kindness and Respect
Paint kindness rocks
Decorate smooth river rocks with quotes or supportive messages, then hide them around the school grounds. Students will enjoy finding, collecting, and sharing themâa fun way to show that kindness rocks!
Record and share social media PSAs
Encourage students to write and record their own public service announcements and share them widely across the schoolâs social media platforms during National Bullying Prevention Month and beyond.
Set up a bullying reporting system
Students may fear repercussions when reporting bullying. Laura and Ashley advocate for an anonymous reporting system. Use a simple form, QR code, reporting box, or counselor referral system to provide a safe way for students to report concerns. Clearly teach students how to make referrals and what to expect after reporting.
Be sure to follow Laura (@musiccitycounselor) and Ashley (@heartandmindteaching) on Instagram for more great counseling and social-emotional learning ideas and activities. You can also find them both at @counselorcollab!
